Last week we ran our first weekly Kickstarter summary, which aims to keep us all up to date on the progress — and otherwise — of projects currently seeking funding that are targeting Wii U and/or 3DS. We're relatively selective in terms of focusing on projects that seem to have either a certain level of quality, a...

VooFoo Studios took on a tough challenge in not only producing cross-platform online chess multiplayer, but achieving it on both the Wii U and the 3DS. Pure Chess immediately earns credit right away, in that case, as a technical example of what can be achieved on what is relatively old tech with the 3DS. Bonus points are due, then, but...

Mach Rider is an impressive feat for an NES title — a faux-3D motorcycle combat game with dozens of courses, an endurance mode, and a track editor. Not only was Mach Rider an NES title, but it was an October 1985 NES launch title. Namco's Pole Position had only hit arcades three years earlier, and...

Nintendo's Download Update for North America has arrived a lot later than normal, but now we know what's landing on your Wii U and 3DS systems this week. There's more GBA goodness on Wii U, new titles on both eShop stores and an NES title on the portable's Virtual Console; on top of...

If you wanted any more proof that Nintendo is moving with the times, it's now possible to pre-order eShop titles online — for those living in the UK, at least.
Drop onto the Nintendo UK online store listing for Nintendo Pocket Football Club and you'll see the option to pre-order the title, with the download code being dispatched...

Atlus will be bringing the Earthbound-inspired Citizens of Earth to the Wii U and 3DS eShops this September. The Kickstarter project which failed to reach its original goal was picked up by Atlus shortly after, who offered to publish the game.
Developed by Eden Indus

Nintendo Pocket Football Club arrives in Europe next week on 17th April, and based on its development time and attention to detail it's certainly one to consider for football fans in the region. Some of you may have missed the fact that our review gave it a strong recommendation, as its publication time clashed with a...

Although they are perhaps a little alien to those outside of Europe, soccer management titles have a long and respected pedigree among those who commit weeks, months and even years of their lives to playing them. In the United Kingdom especially, such games have existed since the days of the 8-bit microcomputers, with franchises like...

Nintendo Pocket Football Club — the European localisation of the Japanese title Calcio Bit — is almost with us, and Nintendo has revealed that the game will launch at a special reduced price this month.
Early adopters will be able to pick up the soccer management simulation for £10.79 until May...

Expos and conventions are certainly a major part of any gaming year, whether public events that allow gamers to try new games or industry-based alternatives that allow developers, publishers and platform holders to forge relationships. In an increasingly connected world, however, not all of...

One month ago, Japanese studio Inti Creates announced it's collaborating with Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune on a new futuristic action-platformer for the 3DS eShop, titled Azure Striker Gunvolt. We still haven't heard anything about a firm release date outside Japan for the game but today Inti Creates launched an...

It's been a whole month since the last update, so Club Nintendo in North America has confirmed the latest batch of downloadable treats that are available in exchange for your hard-earned and treasured coins.
This time we have two Virtual Console games available on Wii and Wii U, joined by two...

One of the most significant issues with both the Wii and DSi online stores were the fixed price points, locking game publishers into their launch rate. As we've seen on the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores, however, Nintendo's decision to drop that requirement has brought us regular promotions and discounts on a...

All right, let’s address the 500-ton jumbo jet in the room: I am an Air Traffic Controller Airport Hero Hawaii is a long and silly name. Although IAAATC is actually an established series in Japan, it’s not the kind of title that tends to inspire great confidence in the West. That’s too bad, in a way, as Airport Hero...

It's that time again, Europe, as Nintendo kicks off our Monday with news of the download goodies that we can look forward to later in the week. This time around we have new games on the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores, more GBA treats on the home console, a major retail release across both...

Kickstarter is the crowdfunding platform loved by all — OK, maybe not all. It remains a fairly divisive platform, with some heavily delayed projects and certain multi-billion dollar sales of formerly crowdfunded products causing consternation; these negatives are arguably countered by a range of exciting...

While April's confirmed and expected mix of GBA Virtual Console games on Wii U and eShop treats will have bank managers peering with interest at spikes in payments to Nintendo, we suspect May will be a strong month at retail. The 3DS kicks us off with Kirby: Triple Deluxe on 2nd May in North America — 16th May in Europe — while...

To start with a key point, the actual games in Rusty's Real Deal Baseball are window dressing for Nintendo's rather quirky interpretation of the free-to-play microtransaction craze. A collection of ten baseball-themed minigames start out at $4.00 each, but players are encouraged to haggle with the eponymous middle-aged dog Rusty to get...

Kubi and friends will soon be making a return in their upcoming 3DS eShop title, Bit Boy!! Arcade. According to a software listing on Nintendo’s website, the eShop action game will be available from 17th April onwards in North America, with a European release expected shortly after.
The game tracks the adventures of...

Japanese video game developer Treasure, best known for critically acclaimed titles such as Sin and Punishment and the Sega Mega Drive classic Gunstar Heroes, is working with Capcom on a sequel to the 3DS action game – based on the manga, animation and toy series of the same name – Gaist Crusher.
Gaist Crusher...

There is a small but dedicated group of gamers in the Nintendo Life community that particularly enjoys Bird Mania 3D and its superior seasonal sequel Bird Mania Christmas. They're simple, budget priced endless runners — or fliers, to be more accurate — where the only task is to navigate the treacherous route and set a new...

What do you get when you pull a Tokyo native from the city and drop him smack-dab in the middle of a snow-covered small town with an insane love triangle involving a goddess? Harvest December, a 13-part visual novel series from Japan, of course! Now, if CIRCLE Entertainment has its way, gamers in the...

It's that time once again, North America, when you can see what download delights are available on your Nintendo systems. There are two new titles on the Wii U, three GBA games on the home console, Rusty's free-to-play baseball, discounts and more. Let's get to it.
Missed the European Download...

Retro City Rampage DX has been causing mayhem on 3DS systems in North America and Europe for a number of weeks now, and it'll also bring its brand of chaos to Australia and New Zealand today. Vblank Entertainment has been working on a free update, too, to resolve a bug in the...

In a recent press release Australian developer Nnooo, known for its 3DS download title escapeVektor, announced that it will be attending PAX East this year in Boston. While at PAX, it will be showcasing three of its games that are currently in development: Blast 'Em Bunnies, Cubemen 2, and ORBITOR.
Blast 'Em Bun

Welcome to Young Justice: Legacy, where the mechanics don't work and "play" doesn't matter. The game purports to be a strategic turn-based experience but accomplishes nothing more than being a horrendous nightmare. It is astonishingly incompetent in every field. Its gameplay, engine, animations, and entertainment value are among...

Just recently we published a list of ten titles that we've described as the biggest Wii U games of 2014, a relatively challenging task when considering the extensive upcoming eShop line-up, in particular. That's part of a quarterly tradition here at Nintendo Life, and we brought the 3DS to the party at the start of this year...

There's been a surge of popularity when it comes to "runner" games over the last few years — games where you do little more than move right (or occasionally, left) while dodging everything that comes at you in an attempt to improve your high scores. While "endless" runners seem to be the most popular variant, Skater Cat falls...

How many times will we all buy old Mega Man games? Over and over again, judging by Capcom's actions, as it's lining up even more retro Blue Bomber adventures for Nintendo hardware; this time around the 3DS Virtual Console's getting the fun, adding to Game Boy title Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge and various NES entries that have already...

Earlier today the European Nintendo Download update included some permanent price discounts from Two Tribes on its 'Classics' range. While the North American update isn't officially released until Thursday, the publisher has taken to Twitter to confirm that these price drops will also apply in North America.
This price of...

It's Monday, which means Download Update news in Europe. This Thursday's treats include the first three Game Boy Advance games on the Wii U Virtual Console, an AR title on 3DS, a very late retail arrival and a number of tempting discounts. Without further pre-amble, let's get to it.
Wii U...

Clu Clu Land is one of those unassuming early Nintendo Entertainment System releases that seems to show up all the time these days, from cameos in Super Smash Bros. to minigames in NES Remix, right alongside classics like Mario and Zelda. Even if you didn't grow up playing Clu Clu Land, most Nintendo...

The folks over at Tiny Cartridge have discovered a couple of interesting design changes made to Rusty's Real Deal Baseball during the localization process. Nintendo's next foray into free-to-play garnered some attention for its unconventional take on the model, which involves in-game haggling to lower...

In some games, just moving around is a joy. Soaring through the skies in Pilotwings, loop-de-looping in NiGHTS into Dreams, wet-jetting around Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine, and tumbling through town in Gravity Rush are all exhilarating experiences in their own right, as memorable as the games built around them.

The adorable panda bear, Lola, is back at it again. This time she's putting her life as a train conductor in the past, and is instead throwing a party...of knowledge. Being the second game in the series to focus on basic ABC's and spelling, following Lola's Alphabet Train on DSiWare back in 2012, does...

Amsterdam developer Youdagames has today announced its flagship Texas Hold 'em title – Governor of Poker – is coming to the North American and European 3DS eShop on 10th April for $4.99 and €4.99 respectively.
The Teyon-published game previously released on PC, Mac, Facebook, Android and iOS plays out in the...

Parking enthusiasts rejoice – EasyTech and CIRCLE Entertainment have just announced that Parking Star 3D has now been submitted to Nintendo of America for approval in the region, while also showing us all a little more of what we can expect in the title.
Below are some of the details...

First released on the Mega Drive over twenty years ago and then remade for the GBA in 2004, Steel Empire is a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up with a distinctive visual twist. Looking like a cross between Jules Verne’s imagination, a Hayao Miyazaki anime and World War I archive footage; Steel Empire’s biplanes, zeppelins and steam...

Arc System Works is bringing a ghostly adventure to the 3DS eShop in the form of a mystery visual novel entitled Ghost Detective: Shida’s Ayakashi Case Book – which also translates to "Mononoke Detective" in Japanese.
The game’s trailer reveals players will take on the role of ghost detective Shida Mori, who has...

Over the past few days we’ve been relentlessly tweeting, videoing and generally getting ourselves lost in playing Steel Empire in every format it’s available on.
But as enjoyable as the game is, experiencing it in its final form doesn’t give much insight into all the hard work...

Fans of the naked ape wearing only a tie will be pleased to hear the 1995 Game Boy title Donkey Kong Land is being released in Japan on the 3DS Virtual Console early next month.
Released a year after the success of the Super Nintendo original, Donkey Kong Land has the Kongs recapturing their banana hoard when...

During the most recent Nintendo Direct broadcast in February, Nintendo announced Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball, a quirky take on the "freemium" model coming to the 3DS eShop in North America. It'll come with one free mini-game in the download but will have a number more — incorporating different aspects of the sport such as...

Let's think back, for a moment, to the DSi. The remixed version of the hugely successful DS Lite — which itself replaced the 'phat' model — included an online download store, which was a big deal at the time. It also had primitive technical capabilities while the DSi Shop, like its Wii equivalent, was a representation of...

In case you hadn't noticed from the amount of coverage we've been giving it, steampunk shooter Steel Empire recently launched on the 3DS eShop in Japan. A port of a 1992 Sega Mega Drive / Genesis blaster, the game is possibly best known for its eye-catching visuals, with massive steam-powered...

Nintendo of America has been a little later than normal with its download update, but it's finally here. There are retro options on both Wii U and 3DS, free DLC and some additional new options on the portable's store; bizarrely, a couple of older titles have also been included. Throw in some...

Ubisoft has run some attractive promotions on the eShop platforms in recent months, and has struck again with 18 fresh discounts in North America. Announced earlier this week over on the Ubisoft blog, Nintendo has now updated its eShop offers web page to show off the discounts available.
These prices are available now and...

In an interview with CVG, our old friend Peter Molyneux — who recently spoke about the Wii U and his thoughts on Nintendo in general — hopes the games industry won't take the recent indie boom for granted. The veteran developer — now in charge of indie studio 22Cans — likens...

Very few developers can boast the introduction of as many unique and refreshing gameplay concepts as game-crafting master Shigeru Miyamoto. Nintendo’s iconic developer has reinvented and reinvigorated countless genres, breathing new life into stale and tired gameplay tropes and carving a name for himself as one of the...

Earlier today we had the pleasure of telling you that Steel Empire was coming to the US eShop, and now we can add to that exciting announcement with freshly-captured video footage of the Japanese version of the game.
Steel Empire originally released on the Mega Drive over twenty years ago, and a GBA remake followed in 2004 (but...

Sega’s enthusiasm for the 3DS continues unabated, which means that gamers have another excellent port-with-extras from the technical wizards at M2 available on the Japanese eShop: the twenty eight year-old Fantasy Zone. As we've now come to expect, this 3D remake is a port of the arcade version of...

Steel Empire has just launched in Japan, and you'll be pleased to know that our resident import expert Kerry is already dodging shrapnel in order to bring you a hands-on preview very soon. In the meantime we have more good news — publisher Starfish SD has confirmed that it is coming to North America later this year.
Based on...

The original Adventure Island — though a fun little platformer in its own right — is most fondly remembered today for being a strikingly comprehensive clone of SEGA's Wonder Boy, as a result of developer Escape licensing the property (minus SEGA's character designs) to Hudson Soft for an NES port. Adventure...

Mario's karting début, a puzzling court crossover, a skating cat and more

Monday morning can be a time for despair and gnashing of teeth, but not for Nintendo Download gamers. As usual Nintendo has issued its update for the treats on the way to Europe later this week — this includes a classic Super NES kart racer, a skating cat, a delightful...

While Sega had us distracted with the excellent 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers, it's gone and announced another classic that Sega fans have all been patiently waiting for — Outrun. This information is so minty-fresh that nothing else is currently known — not even an estimated release date — but we can at...

We gave you a brief overview of Sega's latest 3D Classic Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers last week, but now we've finally got our hands on it we can show you some real footage of our own.
It should come as no surprise at this point to hear that M2 has once again produced an exceptional port, arcade accurate in the most minute...

The hardest part of starting Bubble Pop World might be remembering where you left the “?” box AR card you’ll need to play it. Precious few 3DS games have taken advantage of the system’s augmented reality feature, with the majority employing it just for an amusing little extra. Developer Cypronia, however, has fully dived into...

Mega Man Legends 3 didn't happen. We all know that, and for some the fact that the game never saw the light of day remains a sore point. You might assume that the chances of Legends 3 ever being produced are slim to none, but Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune has revealed that he would...

Our friends at CIRCLE Entertainment have gotten in touch to let us know about Demon King Box, a "defense and attack strategy game" developed by Lionant.
Aside from two screenshots, details on this title are slim. It appears to be set in a magical fantasy world where you hire heroes to fight for your cause.
We'll supply more details...

Given their relatively low asking price, it can be quite easy to fall into the trap of thinking that games on Nintendo’s eShop service amount to little more than short, throwaway experiences. You pay less and, therefore, you must get less value from that game, right? In terms of pure content, that may be true (unless you’re...

Nintendo's partnership with Unity Technologies has served well in attracting indie developers by making it easier to bring their games to a Wii U-specific build of the popular engine. The fact that Wii U development kits come with a free Unity license is certainly an encouraging gesture as well.
So...

GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2014 is now approaching its close in San Francisco, and has hosted a variety of games, demonstrations and reveals. As is also the norm there have been presentations from various figures in the games industry, with a particularly high profile example being that given by...

It's that time, North America, when Nintendo lets you know what download treats await you on the Wii U and 3DS this week. There are new download-only titles on both platforms, while there are also freebies on each through a trial and retail demo. Throw in discounts across the systems and there'll...

While it may not have been making major headlines across the web, Nintendo's Wii U eShop has been pushing some landmarks in 2014. The first was with Blok Drop U, developer RCMADIAX seizing the crown of being the first developer to release a game through the Nintendo Web...

There are a few reasons so many early video games took place in space. While the most obvious one is budgetary — a flat black background being quite literally the easiest possible background to render, thereby making "space" a pretty natural choice of setting — there's a psychological reason as well: space is a...

This week sees the launch of VooFoo's Pure Chess on Wii U and 3DS, and publisher Ripstone has dropped us a line to confirm that varied DLC for the game — which includes new pieces and locations — will be available from the moment the game goes live on the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores.
Two...

Teyon, one of the most active publishers on the 3DS eShop — and DSiWare previously — has confirmed its latest title for the platform. Developed buy FUN UNIT, it'll be a side-scrolling runner called Skater Cat; you can guess a lot from that title.
Taking the role of Ollie, you'll take on three worlds and over 25...

The recent release of Inazuma Eleven on the North American 3DS eShop got many UK gamers wondering if they'd also get to see an updated edition of the Nintendo DS classic on their machines.
However, Level-5 has issued a statement explaining why this new version of the game will remain exclusive to the...

It's that time, Europe, and after two weeks of being delayed by a day the Download Update information has been unleashed promptly to kickstart our week. It includes an intriguing cross-platform release on Wii U and 3DS that could fill a nice gap in the eShop library, two NES...

In Japan Inazuma Eleven is an institution — a multi-modal soccer sensation spanning several sequels and spin-offs, a wildly successful anime adaptation, and even a collectable card game; it's also enjoyed a number of releases in Europe. It's captured hearts from Kyoto to Cádiz, and now Level-5 is aiming to complete that...

Whether it’s navigating the tight corners of underground car parks, or dealing with the complexities and pressures of parking meters, there’s always fun to be had when it comes to parking an automobile.
Chinese eShop developer and publisher CIRCLE Entertainment has obviously caught onto this with the upcoming...

As the first full free-to-play experiment from Nintendo, Steel Diver: Sub Wars can be considered a reasonable success. We certainly feel that it shows that Nintendo can make free-to-play work, and it provides some competitive online play at a fairly relaxed pace, emphasizing strategy over an itchy trigger finger...

There has always been debate within various forms of entertainment over whether a series or story idea has overstayed its welcome. People may cry out for more, but is it worth the risk of a weakened narrative or overall impact?
In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Ace Attorney series creator...

In February we posted a video of Keiji Inafune testing Mighty No. 9, a short clip in which he seemed rather pleased with the work in progress. An extended version has now been released that shows a ledge climb animation, more of the background test and, right at the end, a...

Some may remember that, way back in 2012, Nintendo rejected The Binding of Isaac, a title developed by Edmund McMillen who is well known as one half of Team Meat. The rejection was due to "questionable religious content", though when talking about an improved version of the game in development shortly after McMillen...

It's Nintendo Download update time, North America, and this week brings you a major retail release on 3DS, some retro treats and three new download-only games on 3DS. There are also some tasty discounts, including one of the must-have eShop releases from 2013; you can check out all of the...

Slovakian developer Cypronia has gotten in touch to share details on its latest 3DS eShop title, a unique release which mixes puzzle action with augmented reality.
Bubble Pop World uses the AR card which came with your 3DS system to create virtual puzzles which have to be removed by firing...

Sadly A-Team style doesn't let you build a chopper with tape and paper

Not too long ago we told you about Strike Force Foxx, a new title coming to the 3DS eShop from Big John Games that brings back memories of 1982 title Choplifter. Big John Games president Ken Patterson promised "over the top" 2D action, and the company has now revealed more...

The upcoming arrival of Shovel Knight on Wii U and 3DS is undoubtedly a potential highlight in the near future, with plenty of positive vibes around the title.
We'll all have to wait a little longer to see whether it fulfils its potential, however, as Yacht Club Games has issued a...

DS title Pokémon Link — known as Pokémon Trozei in North America — was a fine example of how Nintendo has been able to diversify and expand the franchise in different directions. This download-only sequel — once again developed by Genius Sonority — continues that trend, but has more monsters to catch, locations to explore and...

There was a bit of a delay making the jump to Nintendo platforms, but Chess nuts need not wait much longer. Pure Chess publisher Ripstone has today announced that the highly anticipated digital title will finally be making its way to the 3DS and Wii U eShops on March 20th.
The game...

If you're a fan of Sega's 3D Classics range then you'll be pleased to know that the company has revealed that a new version of Fantasy Zone — entitled 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Brothers — will hit the Japanese 3DS eShop on the 19th of March.
As with all previous 3D re-releases, the usual Sega love is on show —...

When new games are on the horizon Nintendo occasionally reels out some celebrities to pose with the product in question, to give them an extra cool factor. We imagine that's the intention anyway, some of us older gamers have to consult Wikipedia to find out who these stars are, but we suspect that's not the case for the target...

With the eShop platforms increasingly becoming integral parts of the Wii U and 3DS, Nintendo is likely to continue to increase its support for the stores. Much has been done to ease entry requirements, a process that began on the 3DS, while the Wii U store has opened up new avenues with development tools and access through...

The Nintendo Download information is a day later than normal for the second consecutive week, yet the details are finally here. They bring two Virtual Console releases and a discount for Wii U, some more Luigi-themed discounts, and in addition the 3DS has a variety of new offerings — download-only and...

Our monthly routine is here once again, as Club Nintendo in North America has finally updated its rewards with more downloadable games that can be yours in exchange for some hard earned coins.
This time around we have two Virtual Console games, a DSiWare option and a quirky WiiWare...

Nature. The Great Outdoors. Land of beauty and majesty, where the earth itself holds reign over a freedom and intrinsic order spanning the eons. And, if you’re a hidden object game, a primo place to dump all manner of human-made junk imaginable for people to find. The nature of hidden object games can’t be denied, however, and...

Today’s games industry has become infamous for its endless copycat efforts and yearly sequels, which tend to stick to a very specific template and only offer a modicum of improvement. Nevertheless, while it’s easy for us to call out these games for their lack of innovation (only for us to all then go and buy them anyway),...

Remember the Guild01 series from all the way back in late 2012? Of course you do. It’s the little eShop series that could. Defying all expectations, the Guild games jumped the pond from Japan and landed securely on the Western 3DS eShop stores, providing three indie games that span a variety of genres. The success of the original...

Update:
Unfortunately the live performance video and the related source article have been taken down. Below is another version of the theme tune in the meantime...
Original Article:
The release of Mighty No. 9 may still be over a year away on multiple platforms — including the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores — but we can...

Californian game studio Robot Invader has recently expressed interest in bringing its medieval platform runner Wind-up Knight to the Wii U and 3DS.
A question posed to the Android and iOS developer via its official Twitter account asked if it had any plans to bring Wind-up Knight to the 3DS or Wii U in the near...

In recent weeks some headlines have been made by the ratings agencies and the related processes for getting eShop games from development studios and onto our Nintendo consoles. An early shot was fired by Renegade Kid in an interview with us late last year, in which co-founder Jools Watsham explained...

Our past coverage of Steel Empire, a 3DS conversion of the cult Mega Drive / Genesis shooter, may have betrayed the fact that some of the Nintendo Life team have fond — and increasingly distant — memories of Sega's 16-bit machine. More importantly, however, this shooter was loved by those who played it because it's rather good, so the...

Especially in recent years, we've seen Super Mario Bros. re-released a ton, but back in 1999 it had been a number of years since the last release, Super Mario All-Stars. As such, Nintendo decided to port the original game to Game Boy Color and add some interesting new features at the same time.
Naturally, at its core, this...

If you’re a fan of Mega Man franchise creator Keiji Inafune, you'll probably be aware of the fact that he’s currently busy with the upcoming Wii U and 3DS eShop title, Mighty no. 9.
Despite this, it appears Mr Inafune still has time for other projects. He's working with Japanese developer Inti...

Genius Sonority has confirmed that the third instalment in the Denpa Men series is making its way to the North American and European 3DS eShops this summer. A free demo of The Denpa Men 3: Rise of the Digitoll will be made available in May which will be limited to 30 plays, but users will be able to...

Polish online game publisher Teyon, in collaboration with Japanese developer and publisher Fun Unit, will release Cube Tactics on the American and European 3DS eShop next Thursday for $4.99 and €4.99 respectively.
Players will embark on an epic journey to become the ultimate cube master and defeat all evil...

It's been a long journey, but puzzle platformer Yumi's Odd Odyssey, known as Farewell Umihara Kawase in Japan, will finally be available on the North American 3DS eShop on March 20th, according to publisher Natsume:
Natsume also confirmed a $29.99 price tag for the title.
This is the first time the series has ever ventured...

It's that time, North America, with another batch of downloads arriving on the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms. This week brings new and Virtual Console games to both systems, as well as a discount to celebrate the one year anniversary of one of the finest Wii U eShop titles to...

When a cartoon series receives a download-only spin-off, with localisation that's crowdfunded, it's only natural to sound a klaxon of caution. Both scenarios apply to The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths, yet it's a pleasing tale of fulfilled expectations; it may not blow many minds, but we'll say early on that it fulfils its...